Bill and Krista have been able to guide us through some difficult moments with our dogs. They are so knowledgeable and truly passionate about what they do. We have been so grateful for the help they’ve given us. Putting our dogs in their Goat Camp Program has changed our relationships with our dogs in ways we wouldn’t have been able to do alone. Thank you Bill and Krista!

Balanced Behavior Dog Training Center
Palatine, Illinois
About Balanced Behavior Dog Training Center
Balanced Behavior Dog Training Center specializes in professional dog training and behavior modification for dogs struggling with reactivity, aggression, anxiety, fear, and resource guarding. We go beyond basic obedience by addressing the root cause of problem behaviors and creating lasting results. Our programs are designed to help dogs learn calm, reliable behavior while teaching owners how to provide structure, leadership, and confidence. From leash reactivity to stranger danger to separation anxiety, we transform difficult behavior into cooperation and trust, helping families build safe, happy, and balanced relationships with their dogs.
Training & services
Training goals
- Behavior consultation
- Crate training
- Leash training
- Obedience training
- Socialization
Behavior support
- Aggression training
- Fear and confidence
- Reactivity training
- Resource guarding
- Separation anxiety
How training happens
- Board and train Customer-reported
- Group classes
- In-home training
Program details
Struggling with specific behavior challenges at home? An in-home training session provides targeted, one-on-one coaching in the environment where your dog lives, learns, and demonstrates behaviors. Bill or Krista will come to your home for a one-hour session tailored to your dogs immediate needs and your familys goals. During the session, your trainer will: Evaluate your dogs behavior in its natural home environment to identify triggers, habits, and areas for improvement. Provide step-by-step guidance and strategies to address pressing concerns, including obedience, reactivity, anxiety, threshold manners, and more. Create a customized action plan designed to help you and your dog build consistent routines, reinforce training, and achieve long-term success. In-home sessions are ideal for owners who want practical, real-world solutions applied directly where they matter most. They offer the unique benefit of coaching you as the handler, ensuring you gain the confidence and skills to guide your dog effectively. Please note that availability for in-home sessions is limited due to Bill and Kristas schedule at the training facility. Scheduling is handled directly with your trainer; after booking, Bill or Krista will reach out to confirm a convenient time. · Listed price: From $250.00
- Online or virtual training
- Owner coaching
- Pack walks
Program details
EXCLUSIVE TO GOAT CAMP GRADUATES! Loving Leaders Pack Walk Program This monthly program gives GOAT Camp graduates the opportunity to refine social skills, maintain training, and practice real-world application of learned behaviorsall in a supportive, guided environment. Led by Bill, each hour-long walk takes place in local parks and focuses on reinforcing handler engagement, calm leadership, neutrality, and precise leash communication amidst the natural distractions of other dogs, people, and the environment. Spots are limited to 10 dogs per walk to ensure personalized attention and hands-on guidance. Program Goals: Community Building: Connect with other dedicated dog owners and cultivate a network of like-minded individuals who are committed to positive, results-driven training. Handler Engagement & Skills: Strengthen your ability to remain neutral, maintain focus, and communicate effectively with your dog in dynamic, real-world scenarios. Dog Socialization & Pack Drive: Enhance your dogs cooperative behaviors, reinforce pack-oriented play and work drive, and cultivate harmonious interactions within a group setting. Training Maintenance & Generalization: Apply and generalize skills learned in GOAT Camp to new environments and situations, helping your dog stay reliable and responsive outside of the home. Real-Time Feedback: Receive individualized guidance and corrections from Bill and Krista throughout the walk, ensuring practical application and continuous improvement. Participant Expectations: Arrive on time with exercised, well-prepared dogs. Dogs must remain leashed, maintain safe distances, and follow learned commands. Owners actively follow Bills guidance, remain calm, and reinforce positive behaviors. Bring high-value rewards to support focus and engagement. Participate in post-walk discussion and Q&A to review progress, troubleshoot challenges, and deepen understanding. Walk Structure: Arrival & Briefing (10 min): Check-in, introductions, and a controlled start with initial guidance on positioning, engagement, and leash handling. Guided Walk (30 min): Variable-distance walking while navigating distractions. Bill and Krista provide live feedback, coaching, and demonstrations tailored to each dog and handler. Q&A & Review (20 min): Post-walk discussion to ask questions, address challenges, and review lessons learned during the session. This program not only helps maintain your dogs skills but also empowers you as a handler, reinforcing the principles of leadership, communication, and positive guidance that make GOAT Camp so effective. Join the pack today and keep your dog learning, engaged, and fulfilled! · Listed price: From $50.00
- Private training
Program details
Our private 1-hour training sessions are designed for clients who may not needor be ready forour full GOAT Camp program but still want hands-on, professional guidance. These sessions are offered a la carte, giving you the flexibility to work on exactly what matters most for you and your dog. During your session, well focus on your specific goals. Whether its leash manners, obedience, behavior issues, or simply building a better relationship with your dog, well tailor the training to your needs. If youre not sure where to start, dont worrywell begin with the foundations and build from there. All sessions take place at our training facility, giving us the ideal environment to set your dog up for success. By the end of the hour, youll walk away with practical skills, clear guidance, and a plan to continue progress at home. Perfect for dog owners looking for professional support without committing to a full programthese sessions are flexible, effective, and all about you and your dog. · Listed price: From $225.00
Dog age
- Puppies
Support between sessions
- Follow-up support
- Homework and practice
Dog sports
- Agility Customer-reported
Your dog’s background
- Rescue dogs Customer-reported
Additional services
- Grooming
Other listed services
View 3 additional details
- GOAT Camp
Program details
GOAT Camp is our signature, results-driven training program for owners who want meaningful transformation and a clear, teachable system they can confidently apply at home. It delivers all the benefits of a traditional board & trainintensive, high-quality training for your dogwithout sending your dog away or leaving you out of the process. Instead, you learn alongside your dog every step of the way. This program blends immersive daily training with thorough owner education, structured homework, and real-world practice so your dogs progress continues long after each session ends. Included: 8 Training Days focused on behavior improvement, obedience, leash skills, neutrality, confidence building, settle training, and breed-appropriate fulfillment. Eight 30-Min 1:1 Owner Sessions to teach you exactly how to handle, guide, and maintain your dogs training. Daily Training Video explaining the concept youll practice during your 1:1 session. Daily Homework with step-by-step instructions to keep your routine consistent. Lifetime access to six of Bills behavior-focused programs designed to build solid foundations, prevent owner-created issues, and guide you through resolving the most common behavior challenges. GOAT Camp is perfect for owners who want structure, clarity, and a proven training system. You gain everything needed to build a reliable, fulfilled, and well-balanced dogpaired with the guidance to maintain those results long after the program ends. · Listed price: From $1,995.00
- GOAT Camp Plus
Program details
GOAT Camp Plus is our most complete, results-driven training program for owners who want real transformation and long-term success. This program blends intensive daily training with thorough owner education, clear structure at home, and real-world follow-up support so your dogs progress continues well beyond the program. Included: 8 Training Days focused on behavior improvement, obedience, leash skills, neutrality, confidence building, settle training, and breed-appropriate fulfillment. Eight 30-Min 1:1 Owner Sessions to teach you exactly how to handle, guide, and maintain your dogs training. Daily Training Video explaining the concept youll practice during your 1:1 session. Daily Homework with step-by-step instructions to keep your routine consistent. Lifetime access to six of Bills behavior-focused programs designed to build solid foundations, prevent owner-created issues, and guide you through resolving the most common behavior challenges. Plus These Extras: 1 In-Home Session to address your dogs behavior where it matters most. 1 Refresher Session to tighten things up after graduation. 1 Pack Walk to practice neutrality around other dogs in real life. 1 Stay & Train Day for a tune-up at the facility. GOAT Camp Plus is perfect for owners who want structure, clarity, and continued support. You gain everything needed to build a reliable, fulfilled, and well-balanced dogalong with the guidance to maintain those results for the long haul. · Listed price: From $2,495.00
- Field Trip Training Session
Program details
True success with your dog goes beyond obedienceits about having a dog who can navigate life calmly, confidently, and reliably. In this one-hour Field Trip Training Session, Bill personally accompanies you and your dog to a public location, providing hands-on coaching and guidance tailored to your dogs current skill level and real-life challenges. During the session, you will: Practice engagement and focus in distracting environments such as pet stores, coffee shops, malls, or other public spaces. Receive professional guidance in high-stress locations, including veterinary offices, grooming appointments, or anywhere your dog may struggle with anxiety, fear, or excitement. Learn strategies to manage challenges in real time, building trust, confidence, and self-control in your dog. Gain actionable tools to maintain and reinforce these behaviors at home, ensuring lasting success beyond the session. Each outing is fully customized to your dogs abilities and needs, emphasizing not just exposure, but teaching your dog to process new environments correctly and respond reliably to your guidance. Whether practicing calm behavior, polite greetings, or self-regulation around distractions, these sessions provide real-world experience with expert support. By the end of your Field Trip session, youll leave with practical strategies, a more confident and composed dog, and the peace of mind that comes from learning directly from Bill in real-life settings. · Listed price: From $295.00
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Customer reviews
Google listingMentioned in reviews
- Knowledgeable trainers 21
- Dog reactivity 17
- Reactive dog training 14
- Leash pulling 12
- Obedience training 9
- Communication with dog 6
All 10 topics
- Confident dog 6
- Crate training 3
- Anxious dog training 2
- Rescue dog training 2
Google review topics, not confirmed services.
Working with Bill has been such a wonderful experience for me and my two dogs. From the start, he made us feel comfortable with his kind and approachable personality. He was so patient and encouraging, which made the training process not only effective but also enjoyable. I learn…Read full reviewClose full review
Working with Bill has been such a wonderful experience for me and my two dogs. From the start, he made us feel comfortable with his kind and approachable personality. He was so patient and encouraging, which made the training process not only effective but also enjoyable. I learned so much—not just about how to help my dogs succeed, but also how to feel more confident as a dog mom. Bill truly has a gift for connecting with both dogs and people, and I’m so grateful for the positive changes he’s brought into our lives.
If you’re looking to get your dog trained i highly recommend bill and his team! I noticed my dog was becoming a little reactive her name is Lola she is a 3 year old pitbull mix. She would bite on the leash jump on me while walking and I started getting worried about her becoming …Read full reviewClose full review
If you’re looking to get your dog trained i highly recommend bill and his team! I noticed my dog was becoming a little reactive her name is Lola she is a 3 year old pitbull mix. She would bite on the leash jump on me while walking and I started getting worried about her becoming more reactive so I started doing some research on dog trainers that work with reactive dogs and came across Balance behavior I read the reviews and I said i have to sign her up just in a few sessions she was already a different dog. No more biting on the leash and no more jumping on me. Now we can go on walks and enjoy them. Ps I would train with Lola at home as well, what ever she learned for the day I would practice with her at home.
8/2025 - BE A GOAT GRAD & JOIN THE PACK (WALK)! If you're ready to help your dog overcome their challenges and be the best version of themselves then Balanced Behavior Dog Training Center is the place to be. As a veteran GOAT graduate, it is clear why this program works, especia…Read full reviewClose full review
8/2025 - BE A GOAT GRAD & JOIN THE PACK (WALK)! If you're ready to help your dog overcome their challenges and be the best version of themselves then Balanced Behavior Dog Training Center is the place to be. As a veteran GOAT graduate, it is clear why this program works, especially for reactive dogs. Bill's deliverance of the education teaches you that obedience training is different from behavior modification. Obedience is a complimentary offshoot. It's not about teaching commands-it's helping your dog feel comfortable and confident in their environment. By addressing emotions first, the GOAT program eliminates the constant battle of trying to get or keep your dog's attention or forcing them into a situation they are not ready for. This structure creates a calmer, more receptive mindset in your dog. 4/2025 update since my previous post: Solana completed the GOAT & Reactive Dog Group programs with flying colors! She recently participated in the Loving Leaders Pack Walk without reactive issues. We are now confident to join the drop-in class Proofing Practice Power Hour. I never expected Solana to achieve neutrality. The GOAT program is instrumental to achieving this by seeking to balance the responsibility between dog and handler. Bill teaches the handler to provide clarity about what behavior is good and what is not good. With this foundation Solana & I walk empowered and confident. As a long term shelter dog Solana did not know how to be happy, only reactive to her surroundings. Bill's understanding of canine behavior unraveled the obstacle to her happiness. Her demeanor now is bubbly and smiley! Balanced Behavior Dog Training Center is where we gained a mutually respectful, cooperative and attentive relationship to live in harmony with Solana. The individual attention Bill & Krista give to their clients is utmost respected and commended. Thank you so much. Solana loves you both! PREVIOUS POST FALL 2024: Behavior modification is not a quick fix- My current adult rescue dog has deep rooted reactivity to dogs which I never experienced with any previous dogs. Solana growls, lunges & pulls at every dog she sees regardless of distance. I questioned whether I would ever be able to enjoy neighborhood walks or walking through a community park. I tried a reactive dog class (twice!) at a well known training facility and had poor results. It was clear to me that the small group environment increased both of our anxiousness to where Solana pulled me down & dragged me to get at a classmates dog. The class trainer suggested to look at other options such as prescription meds & muzzle, return her to the shelter or put her down. Discouraged? Yes, but I felt I owed it to her to find the right behaviorist. Hence, I found Bill! Learning that his specialty is behavior modification training especially for dogs with reactivity & aggression gave me a spark of hope. At our first meeting he explained and demonstrated the balance behavior concept. Solana responded well and looked to him for direction. In the short amount of time I've worked with Bill there is a noticeable improvement. We developed a plan of incremental goals so we have an idea of what success looks like. Bill has an extensive understanding of dog behavior and how to adjust training techniques to achieve the desired response. He is clear and patient in communicating the techniques and psychology behind them. He listens intently to the owner's feedback and is passionately concerned for your dog. Solana & I have a ways to go but we are meeting our goals and will continue to do so with Bill at the helm. I feel her improvement is two-fold - executing the training method but also training me to be a calm, mindful & confident leash handler to guide her. Walks are calmer and we do more of them. Thank you Bill.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND! My 1 year old Rottweiler Myla, and I recently graduated the GOAT program and couldn’t be more confident and happy with the results. I’ve had Myla since I bought her as a puppy from a reputable breeder in the area. Myla is my first Rottweiler and first working br…Read full reviewClose full review
HIGHLY RECOMMEND! My 1 year old Rottweiler Myla, and I recently graduated the GOAT program and couldn’t be more confident and happy with the results. I’ve had Myla since I bought her as a puppy from a reputable breeder in the area. Myla is my first Rottweiler and first working breed dog. There was a lot I didn’t know of how to go about certain things, and how to address certain behaviors. I knew a good amount of training methods and learned about reactivity through YouTube videos and respected trainers I’d see through social media. But with all the influx of information and different training methods out there, it’s hard to stick with one that doesn’t end up contradicting the other. At Balanced Behavior, I learned what worked with my dog. What I thought was aggression towards other dogs and strangers, was just mishandling on my end and frustration on hers. Bill and his team showed me how friendly she actually is, and how to introduce things properly. Not only do they show what dogs are capable of, they’re saving dogs lives. We found Balanced Behavior at the perfect time too. With a new baby on the way, and what seemed to be an uncontrollable, 100 pound, lost cause of a dog, has resulted in a new found energy that is calm and a joy to be around. We had trouble and avoided much interaction with other unfamiliar dogs and strangers, but Bill and his team showed how much she actually likes those things but needed guidance on how to go about it. The constant interactions with new people and dogs in a controlled environment is something you cannot replicate. They completely set up your dog for success and give you the tools to carry that outside the classroom. A simple google search where I found Balanced Behavior saved a lot of stress and helped navigate the behavior of the dog we always wanted. I also watched a ton of Tom Davis professional Dog Trainer videos in my learning period, and as I navigated to the Balanced Behavior website, I saw a video review by Tom recommending this place! I continue to see Bill and his team through other programs they offer like pack walks in the park with other students. Krista was great with Myla and were able to build a strong relationship with eachother. I can’t thank them enough as it has been such a big breakthrough for us. Keep in the mind the work doesn’t stop when the program is over. You should always keep working with your dog everyday! It’s a lifestyle that’s worth it.
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.